A variety of tanks are used to collect wastewater from an autonomous sewer system. It can be septic tanks with sewage filtration, or sealed containers for the device of cesspools. They are made of several types of materials, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages in use. Manufacturers are increasingly offering plastic containers for cesspools. The reason for this demand is their significant advantages over other types of drives.
Types of storage tanks
Tanks for cesspools are made from different materials. Dimensions depend on the volume of effluents.
Metal
Metal barrels are often used for installation in cesspools. They are durable; containers from various technical fluids can be used.
The main disadvantage of any metal is its susceptibility to corrosion. Rust quickly reduces structural strength. Through time, through damage appears, which leads to the leakage of effluents into the surrounding soil. Tanks are treated with anti-corrosion compounds. But it costs more and does not help for long.
The price of finished metal tanks is quite high. The use of improvised tanks is often not profitable due to the inability to store sewage.
Concrete
Concrete storage tanks for sewage also do not lose popularity. This design is made:
- On your own, fill the pit with a solution. Such a device will be cheaper, but it will take a lot of time to manufacture.
- Made from concrete rings. They are mounted using special equipment, as the elements have significant weight. In addition, the design must be additionally sealed to prevent leakage of drains into the soil, or moisture from the soil into the tank.
- In the form of a sealed sump made of hydro concrete. Such a tank has a significant life. It is better to entrust the installation to professionals.
The service life of concrete sumps is quite long, but over time, the structure is still destroyed by moisture. A detrimental factor for concrete is temperature changes. Freeze and thaw cycles lead to gradual corrosion of the container.
Brick
Brick tanks for cesspools are quite simple to make with their own hands. By design, they can be:
- Without a bottom - the simplest version of the well. The main disadvantage of this capacity is that the effluents enter groundwater.
- From several sections - in this way a regular septic tank is obtained, in which the effluents are divided into fractions and filtered.
- Sealed from bricks - ensure environmental cleanliness on the site.
For the construction of brick cesspools, substandard or second-hand material can be used. Such designs have a long service life, they are of any shape and size. Brick sumps are suitable for various types of soil.
Plastic
Plastic tanks for cesspools are made:
- from polypropylene (PP);
- from polyethylene of low pressure (PND);
- reinforced fiberglass.
In form, they are performed:
- cylindrical;
- rectangular;
- cone-shaped.
You can place plastic tanks in the ground horizontally or vertically, depending on the level of groundwater.
The design of a standard plastic container includes:
- sealed tank with a neck;
- head soldered to the neck;
- screw cap or hatch;
- pipe for connecting the sewer pipe.
In some models, additional holes are made for connecting the ventilation pipe, and another tip may also be provided. The drain barrel is equipped with overfill controls.
Advantages of using plastic containers for cesspools:
- The high strength of the tanks is ensured by the wall thickness, which can reach several centimeters.
- Designs are resistant to temperature extremes.
- Resistant to aggressive media - the long service life of plastic containers is ensured by the fact that the material does not rot and does not rust.
- The cast construction of the tank and the absence of welds eliminate leakage.
- The light weight of the tank makes it easy enough to transport and install it in the pit.
- Reservoirs of any shape and size are produced from plastic. The material is easy to process.
- The price of plastic containers for sewage is relatively low.
Plastic tanks have a smooth inner surface. Due to this, no precipitation and deposits are formed on the walls.
Designs require reliable fastening in the pit, otherwise, under the influence of ground and melt water, the empty tank can move.
Selection recommendations
The choice of capacity for the cesspool depends on many factors. It is required to observe sanitary standards:
- The tank must be equipped with a bottom. This will prevent untreated sewage from entering soil and water bodies.
- The depth of the reservoir depends on the groundwater level on the site. The bottom edge of the sump should be above the aquifers.
- Sink pits cannot be arranged closer than 10 m to residential buildings, 20 m to water bodies.
The size of the sewer tank is selected depending on the number of drains. This mainly depends on the number of people living in the house. It is recommended to take at least 100 liters per family member. If the volume is incorrectly selected, the cost of maintaining the sump will increase due to the frequent pumping of effluents.
The material of construction is selected based on financial capabilities. Plastic barrels will cost much less than tanks made of metal, concrete or brick.
Plastic container installation technology
The location of the cesspool is selected based on sanitary requirements. In this case, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of access of equipment for pumping effluents.
First of all, they mark and dig a foundation pit of the required size. The installation of plastic containers is carried out on a pre-prepared base in a cesspool. It is made of a reinforced concrete pillow 15 cm thick, or a compacted sand preparation of 25 cm is used.
A distance of at least 15 cm is left between the walls of the pit and the tank. After installing the container, the voids around are filled with a mixture of sand and cement. 50 kg of cement are taken per 1 cube of sand. If there is a threat of flooding, it is worth increasing the amount of the mixture. You can do with backfilling with ordinary soil.
The price of containers for cesspools depends on the material, volume, additional devices and accessories. With self-assembly, the total cost of the structure will be significantly less. However, for a quality device, certain skills are needed.
